ELTON'S
TEARFUL FAREWELL
Grieving
Elton John said a tearful farewell to fellow superstar Freddie Mercury yesterday
with the words: "I' will love you always." Elton's message was pinned to a
massive wreath of pink roses shaped as a heart. The note added: "Thank you
for being my friend." But the emotional tribute could not reflect the true
loss felt by red-eyed Elton as he left AIDS victim Freddie's funeral. Tears
streamed down his cheeks as he walked forlornly to his green Bentley before
being driven off.

Freddie's
Queen comrades were equally distraught. And
as they filed away, it was announced that the band's best known hit Bohemian
Rhapsody would be re-released next month to raise money for AIDS charities. The
song will almost certainly be the Christmas No. 1.

In
another gesture, planned by Freddie before his death last Sunday, the piles of
flowers laid at West London Crematorium will cheer AIDS patients. They were
gathered up after the service to be taken to hospitals caring for sufferers.

Faith

The
25-minute funeral was a somber contrast to Freddie's wild life of outrageous
decadence. It was conducted by priests
following the ancient Zoroastrian faith of the star's family.

Freddie's
devout parents, who live in a modest terraced house, stood side by side with
millionaire rock idols as the priests chanted and blessed the coffin. Mary
Austin, for years gay Freddie's platonic girlfriend, wept through most of the
service. The message on her unsigned wreath
read: "For my dearest with my deepest love. Your Old Faithful."

A quiet
reception was held after the funeral, at Freddie's mansion in Kensington, West
London. Dave Clark, the 60's drummer who was alone with Freddie when he died,
emerged two hours later. He whispered: "It was a lovely service, very
emotional. Freddie would have appreciated it."

Freddie
sends his last moving message in a song:

YOU'VE
GOT A FRIEND

Tragic
Freddie Mercury sent a last message to his closest pals yesterday as the
moving ballad You've Got A Friend was played to mourners at his funeral.

Soul
star Aretha Franklyn's version of the classic song rang out as the Queen
singer's coffin was taken into a crematorium chapel. AIDS victim Freddie had
planned the funeral himself before his death. And those who came to remember him
responded to his theme with tears, flowers and prayers for their good friend.

The
funeral attended by fewer than 40 mourners reflected the bizarre mixture of
Freddie's two worlds. It was conducted by white-robed priests according to his
family's ancient Zoroastrian religion. Yet among those at West London
Crematorium were modern rock giants Elton John, Queen comrades, Brian May, Roger
Taylor and John Deacon, and the 60's drummer, Dave Clark - who was alone with
Freddie when he died aged 45 on Sunday.

His
grief-stricken parents Bomi and Jer Bulsara - strict Zoroastrians - had to be
supported by friends. And one-time girlfriend Mary Austin, who stayed close to
the singer throughout his string of gay affairs, wept through most of the
25-minute service.

Flamboyant
Freddie, born Frederick Bulsara in Zanzibar, (Reporter's mistake, as you
probably know Freddie was born 'Farokh' Bulsara - not sure of spelling) went back to
his roots in death. In accordance with age-old Zoroastrian rites, Parsee priests
in muslin robes and caps chanted prayers over the stars silk-lined oak coffin,
which had a single red rose on its lid. They kept to the Avestan language first
used in Persia 3,500 years ago. The only English spoken was when mourners were
told to stand or sit. Their prayers were supposed to help Freddie make his final
journey to Garothman Bahest - the prophet Zoroaster's "Eternal
Heaven".

But
Freddie did not stick to tradition entirely. As mourners filed out after his
body was cremated, an operatic aria by Verdi was played. It was sung by Spanish
soprano Montserrat Caballe - Freddie's duet partner in the dramatic song
Barcelona.

A
carpet of 1,000 wreaths covered the ground outside.Dave
Clark tried to comfort Mary, who is pregnant by an interior designer, as she
studied messages from David Bowie, Gary Glitter, U2 and hundreds of fans. Gary's
white carnation wreath was shaped like the huge star Freddie was. Freddie's
parents sent white dahlias and lilies with the words: "To our very beloved
son, Freddie: We love you always, Mum and Dad."

Brian
May - with girlfriend Anita Dobson - wiped away a tear. Elton John gave John
Deacon a hug and kissed Roger Taylor.

Fans
walked away crying - left only with the now so-poignant lyrics of Freddie's
anthem We Are The Champions:

"I've
taken my bows. And my curtain calls. You've brought me fame and fortune and
everything that goes with it. I thank you all."